LOCAL people are being encouraged to get on their marks for this year's Oldbury Fun Run.

The fundraising event, which is being held on Sunday, June 21, has been a regular on the local calendar for 25 years and organisers are hoping to make this year bigger and better.

The Oldbury Fun Run is a four-mile course around the village of Oldbury starting at the Anchor Inn and ending at the Ship.

Last year the event saw 700 runners take part and attracted more than 2,000 spectators to the village on the day.

Three years ago the fun run was taken over by a small group of volunteers from the village who have been working hard to capitalise on the event to raise as much money for charity as possible.

Keith Sullivan, chairman of Oldbury Fun Run, said: "Since the committee took over we have expanded the fun run to make it more of a village event.

"So now it is not just the fun run in the morning but we have introduced new parts to it so people can stay on in the afternoon.

"We try to involve as much of the village and local community in the day as possible."

The Oldbury Fun Run now also includes a tug of war competition, a beer festival, stalls, a small fair ground for the children and food and refreshments.

Last year the Oldbury Fun Run raised £6,000 for children’s cancer charity CLIC Sargent and £1,000 for the Severn Area Rescue Association, who provide First Aid on the day.

A further £2,000 was also given to other local groups and good causes such as Oldbury Primary School, the village playing fields and the pensioners' lunch club.

Organisers are now keen to get as many runners as possible pounding the streets of Oldbury this June.

Everyone who signs up for the fun run will receive a £5 voucher for the Sweatshop and free membership at Elite Fitness and Leisure Gym on St Mary Street, Thornbury.

The free gym membership will be valid from May 1 until the fun run on June 21.

"The gym membership is great for our runners because they can also have help from a personal trainer to help them prepare for the run and get in shape," said Mr Sullivan.

Anyone who raises more than £150 will get a free bottle of bubbly and the person who raises the most for charity will win a flight in a light aircraft.

Application forms are available online at, www.oldburyfunrun.co.uk All enquiries to info@oldburyfunrun.co.uk